Chapter 694: Thanks to my wife for giving birth to a pair of twins, a dragon and a phoenix

When they were alone, Zou Minglei shouted angrily, "Didn't we say that our family was once a wealthy family in Beijing? How can we be so embarrassed! Mother, don't pretend to know if you don't!"

Mrs. Zou was already feeling shy and embarrassed, and now being accused by her son of pretending to know something, her face turned red with anger!

But her son had been spoiled since childhood, so Mrs. Zou couldn't bear to scold him. She gritted her teeth and scolded Zou Pingping: "...Are you dumb? I'm old and my eyesight is not good, but you didn't remind me!"

Zou Pingping not only failed to buy the cloth she liked but was also scolded for no reason. She couldn't help but pout.

After scolding Zou Pingping, Mrs. Zou looked at her angry eldest son and coaxed him, "Forget it, forget it. Let's go to the shop that your distant concubine left for us. It is our family's hope for a comeback in the future. When we have money at home, we will open a cloth shop and you and your sister can pick any cloth to make clothes."

Mrs. Zou drew a big cake and tried to appease the bad-tempered Zou Minglei.

Zou Pingping pursed her lips again.

She knew that even if that day really came, her mother would never let her pick any cloth to make clothes like she said.

She saw clearly what happened to her two older sisters who got married in her hometown.

The eldest sister married the local county magistrate and became his seventh concubine. The second sister became the legal wife, but unfortunately she became the second wife to a man who was almost her grandfather’s age. All her step-sons and step-daughters were older than her second sister!

Even she was almost sold to a traveling merchant as a concubine to pay for the journey before going to Beijing.

Zou Pingping gritted her teeth and knelt in front of Old Madam Zou, telling her that once they entered the capital, there would surely be more wealthy people there, and she was very beautiful, so she would definitely be able to exchange more money then.

This persuaded Old Lady Zou.

Old Madam Zou took out her own coffin as travel expenses.

Only then did Zou Pingping save herself.

Zou Pingping defines herself as a person at home.

A pig fattened for slaughter.

Zou Pingping smiled sarcastically.

Madam Zou had already coaxed Zou Minglei to the front, and when she saw Zou Pingping hadn't caught up, she turned back and urged, "Why don't you hurry over here?"

Zou Pingping clenched the handkerchief tighter in her hand, but smiled: "Oh, I see, mother."

None of the three members of the Zou family noticed that someone was following them in the darkness not far behind them.

When she arrived at the rouge and powder shop left by the "distant relative", Mrs. Zou was stunned.

The Zou family, which was once the richest in the capital, has been declining over the past decade. In recent years, they have to support two boys in the family, and life has become even more difficult.

Sometimes even food and clothing become a problem, let alone buying rouge and powder.

Mrs. Zou hasn't seen these things for many years.

Zou Pingping had seen it before, but that was the eldest sister of the seventh concubine, who asked someone to bring it back to her, saying that she was a grown-up girl and it was time for her to learn how to dress up.

Zou Pingping treasured that small box of rouge very much and was reluctant to use it on weekdays. Later, on the day she went to Beijing, she was worried that she would be out of place with the girls in Beijing, so she secretly put some on her lips.

But at this moment, seeing the shop full of rouge and powder, Zou Pingping and Mrs. Zou had almost the same reaction - they both held their breath, not daring to breathe.

The rouge and powder shop smelled delicious. Zou Minglei's eyes lit up. He looked at this and touched that. He couldn't help swallowing his saliva and greeted the shopkeeper standing beside him: "...Are these all mine?"

The shopkeeper's eyes flashed with disdain, but his face was respectful. He smiled and said, "Young Master, look at what you said. These are the properties left to your family by our previous master. Naturally, they belong to your family."

Zou Minglei burst into laughter.

Mrs. Zou came to her senses and was very excited. She asked the shopkeeper in a trembling voice: "...Which kind of rouge and powder is the best here? Pack it up for me!"

The shopkeeper introduced several kinds of food to Mrs. Zou very considerately. Mrs. Zou's eyes lit up and she nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, pack them all for me!"

Zou Pingping took the opportunity to say, "Mom, I want some too."

Mrs. Zou felt that she was actually a loving mother. She had wronged her daughter in the past because the family did not have the conditions. Now that the family had the conditions, it would be better to satisfy her daughter.

Madam Zou waved her hand and said, "Boss, pack one for Miss Three as well."

Zou Pingping was very happy.

However, before Zou Pingping could be happy for long, Mrs. Zou could not help but ask about the prices of these rouge and powder.

After knowing the price, Mrs. Zou took a deep breath, and then felt that she was too old to use these expensive rouge and powder, but her daughter was still young, why should she use such good rouge and powder?

Mrs. Zou slowed down her voice and said, "Pingping, you are still young. It would be a waste to use all these. I will ask the shopkeeper to get some more suitable for you little girls."

The shopkeeper agreed, "Yes, these rouge and powder are mixed with pearl powder. Miss Third is in her prime, so she doesn't need pearl powder on her face."

Mrs. Zou was very satisfied with the shopkeeper and nodded: "Yes, that's right."

Zou Pingping pursed her lips in grievance: "Well...ok. I'll listen to my mother."

Mrs. Zou was also very satisfied with Zou Pingping.

This daughter is a person who understands the times.

Zou Minglei was unhappy: "You can all use these rouge and powder, but I can't!"

Mrs. Zou hurriedly coaxed him: "Let's find a clothing store and buy two new sets of clothes for you and your brother!"

Madam Zou gritted her teeth and promised, "Haven't you always wanted a new jade pendant? Mother will take you to see a new jade pendant!"

Zou Minglei finally smiled: "That's more like it!"

Zou Pingping pursed her lips and said, "Mom, I have no clothes either..."

Mrs. Zou immediately said, "Didn't I just pack you some rouge and powder? Pingping, you can't be so ignorant."

Zou Pingping was sullen and stopped talking.

Zou Minglei made a face at Zou Pingping.

Zou Pingping was so angry that she didn't want to talk and turned away.

After Mrs. Zou took Zou Pingping and Zou Minglei to finish their shopping, Zou Minglei said he was tired, so they went into a teahouse to rest.

Mrs. Zou chose a seat in the corner of the lobby and ordered a pot of the cheapest tea. Seeing Zou Minglei frowning beside her, she gritted her teeth and ordered a plate of snacks.

When the snacks arrived, Zou Pingping carefully twisted a piece and closed her eyes while eating: "It's so delicious."

Madam Zou couldn't help but say, "When we were in the capital, these snacks were not to your father's and my liking. The snack chefs in our family were specially hired from Su Yang..."

Zou Minglei rolled his eyes: "Then don't eat it."

Madam Zou glanced at Zou Minglei in a reproachful manner: "What are you talking about! It's been a while since I've tasted snacks from the capital, okay?"

After saying that, Mrs. Zou also carefully twisted a piece.

Seeing Zou Pingping reaching out to twist the second piece, she coughed: "That's almost enough. You have to pay attention to keep in shape and don't eat too much."

Zou Pingping withdrew her hand somewhat angrily.

What do you mean by keeping in shape? She is already very thin!

Her mother just felt sorry for her and ate it!

Zou Minglei is almost becoming a little fat boy, why doesn’t her mother say anything!

Zou Pingping was feeling secretly angry when she suddenly saw a storyteller walking up to a slightly higher platform in the lobby.

The storyteller grinned and said, "...Today, let's talk about this famous beauty in the capital!"

There were sporadic cheers from the teahouse.

"If you ask about the most beautiful lady in the capital, everyone may have their own answer. Some may think this lady is, some may think that lady is, and so on. However, the one we are going to talk about today should be familiar to everyone. She is the one who was recently designated as the fourth prince's consort by the royal family at a young age!"

"Yes, it's the jewel in the crown of Duke Xin's Mansion, Miss Yu Mingzhu!"

Zou Pingping noticed that after the storyteller said this, her mother seemed to be a little uneasy.

My eyes are a little straight!

"The Fourth Prince's Consort? ...The Fourth Prince's Consort!"

Mrs. Zou murmured.

Next, the storyteller praised the apple of the Duke of Xin's eye to the skies, praising her beauty and virtue to the point of being unmatched in heaven and on earth.

The storyteller also brought up the fact that Yu Mingzhu was chosen as the fourth prince's consort as evidence: "...otherwise why did the royal family choose Miss Yu so early? It was because they were afraid that such a good girl would be snatched away by someone else! That's why our Majesty quickly issued an order to choose Miss Yu as his wife!"

Mrs. Zou was shaking with excitement, and she felt very fidgety. When she saw the storyteller finishing a segment and going off the stage to have a rest and drink tea, her eyes flickered, and she hurriedly told Zou Pingping to take good care of Zou Minglei, and she picked up her skirt and quickly chased after the storyteller.

Zou Minglei was not interested in this at all. He raised his eyelids, took a look and then went back to eating his snacks.

Zou Pingping frowned and looked at her mother's anxious back, thinking about something.

Mrs. Zou caught up with the storyteller in the backyard of the teahouse.

The storyteller looked a little surprised: "Why is this lady here in the backyard?"

"Sir, I want to ask you something." Madam Zou's eyes were full of anxiety. "You just said that Miss Yu from the Xin Guo Mansion was decreed to be the Fourth Prince's consort. Is that true?"

"It's definitely possible." The storyteller was not very happy. "This is related to the imperial edict. If I forge it, I will lose my head. Madam, you are from another place, right? Many people in the capital know about this."

Mrs. Zou happily returned to her previous position, looking extremely excited: "Let's go, let's go home."

I couldn't wait to take Zou Minglei and Zou Pingping home.

No one saw it. After Mrs. Zou hurriedly left with her child, someone smiled and gave the storyteller a silver coin: "Sir, you said it very well."

The storyteller smiled and said, "You are so polite. Next time you need this kind of work, please come to me again!"

…

When she got home, Mrs. Zou didn't even sit down before she went to look for Mr. Zou for a drink.

Master Zou was drinking with his concubine, Aunt Bai, and was already a little tipsy.

Madam Zou rushed in directly: "Master! Come here, I have something to tell you!"

Aunt Bai was still a little unhappy.

Why is this mistress like this!

Why is it that even in the capital, you are still so petty!

Mr. Zou was not very happy either, as he was drinking happily with his beautiful concubine!

"No……"

As a result, before Mr. Zou could finish his refusal, Mrs. Zou held Mr. Zou's hand and hinted, "This concerns our four daughters..."

Upon hearing these three words, Mr. Zou was startled and almost sobered up.

Mrs. Zou gave him a look, and Mr. Zou was almost sober.

He stood up slowly: "Okay, let's go back to the main courtyard first."

Aunt Bai wanted to step forward to persuade him to stay: "Master..."

Master Zou pulled his arm away: "Stop making trouble, I have something important to do."

Aunt Bai could only say aggrievedly: "I know."

Aunt Bai looked at the backs of Madam Zou and Master Zou as they left together, and her teeth itched with anger.

But she had no choice. The three daughters and two sons in the family were all born from Mrs. Zou's belly.

She has been married to Master Zou as a concubine for some years, but her belly is not keeping up. What can she do...

Wait, that's not right!

Aunt Bai suddenly stopped.

She was so engrossed in jealousy just now that she didn't notice that Madam Zou was talking about the fourth daughter?!

Four daughters?

Where did the fourth young lady come from? !

Is it that Madam is wrong?

But judging from the old man's reaction, it doesn't seem like he was wrong.

Aunt Bai was puzzled.

When Madam Zou and Master Zou returned to the main courtyard, Master Zou sent all the servants out and locked the door tightly.

"What do you want to say?" Mr. Zou looked at Mrs. Zou with a stern face.

Madam Zou still couldn't hide her excitement, and clenched her hands, "Master, I heard from a storyteller on the street today that our Mingzhu has been decreed by the emperor to be the consort of the Fourth Prince!"

Mr. Zou's eyes widened in disbelief: "Is this true?"

"Of course it's true!" Madam Zou was extremely excited. "It's related to the imperial decree, how dare others forge it?! I was also cautious. When I came back, I passed by our rouge and powder shop and asked the shopkeeper a question. He also said it was true!"

"The Fourth Prince's Consort!" Master Zou was so excited that he walked around the room. "It was not in vain that we spent a lot of money to have our daughter exchanged with the daughter of a nobleman! This time, we got the Fourth Prince's Consort!"

Mr. Zou was extremely excited and couldn't help but fantasize, "If the fourth prince can ascend to the throne in the future, wouldn't our daughter be the emperor in the future?! Oh my God, if our grandson becomes the emperor, then our Zou family's wealth and glory for generations to come will be within our grasp, right?!"

Mrs. Zou was so excited: "That's right!"

Both husband and wife were extremely excited.

Madam Zou thought about the past and could not help but say, "After the noblewoman gave birth, the maid beside her saw the gender of the child. We were upset at that time because we could not replace the son!... You see, now it seems better to replace the daughter! If the son is replaced, Ding Potian will just be a young master of the Duke's Mansion. If the daughter is replaced, she will become the prince's consort and may even become the empress. Isn't it better than anything else?!"

Mr. Zou also nodded repeatedly: "This is all thanks to Madam. She gave birth to a pair of twins, a dragon and a phoenix! Madam is a great contributor to our Zou family!"